Media

March 27, 2014

NC STATE AFL-CIO PRAISES NLRB RULING THAT COLLEGE ATHLETES ARE WORKERS WITH UNION RIGHTS“This is a historic victory for college athletes everywhere, including here in North Carolina.” – James Andrews

Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, jeremy@aflcionc.org, 336-255-2711

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 27, 2014) – The North Carolina State AFL-CIO released the following statement from President James Andrews in response to yesterday’s ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Chicago that football players at Northwestern University qualify as employees under federal law and are thus eligible to form a union.

“This is a historic victory for college athletes everywhere, including here in North Carolina, where they generate tremendous wealth for college athletics programs and conferences that have treated them as little more than assets.

“That ends now, as it should, because the simple fact of the matter is that the only ones in the NCAA not getting paid are the athletes who make it all possible. It is greed and exploitation, pure and simple.

“College athletes have legitimate interests at stake – including the safety of their sports, providing medical care for injuries, keeping their scholarships, and graduating with a quality education. Simple fairness should dictate that they have the right to organize to defend and advocate for those interests.”

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The North Carolina State AFL-CIO is the largest association of local unions and union councils in North Carolina, representing over one-hundred thousand union members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working families. PO Box 10805, Raleigh, NC 27605.

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The North Carolina State AFL-CIO is the largest association of local unions and union councils in North Carolina, representing over one-hundred and forty-thousand union members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working people.